Footwear



's. TROY jan. 4, 1938.

FOOTWEAR Filed Aug. l13. 1956 {NVENTOR 1515/ man?" WITNEss ATTORN EYS Patented Jan. 4, 1938 'reo sms P r s @FIB 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in footwear and in the art of making the same and has particular relation to the type of low shoe or slipper commonly known as a pump.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved footwear, particularly of the pump type, which is of improved appearance and whichis comfortable and properly fits the foot of the wearer.

A further object is the provision of an improved nished edge for articles made of leather or similar material and of an improved method of making the same. l

Another object is the provision of an improved method of manufacturing footwear, particularly pumps, whereby footwear of improved appearance which properly t the foot of the wearer may be inexpensively manufactured.

My invention particularly contemplates the provision in footwear, such as pumps, having a low upperkportion and a foot-receiving opening therein of an improved finished edge surrounding the opening and of an improved method of forming the edge whereby the upper portion of the shoe presents an improved appearance and more properly fits the foot of the wearer.

For a fuller understanding of the invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 is a side View of the upper portion of a pump made in accordance with my present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View in the direction of the arrows on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the structure of the preferred form of my improved finished edge;

Fig. 3 is a plan View showing a part of the blank from which the upper portion ofV the shoe is formed showing the rst Steps in forming the improved nished edge;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view in the direction of the arrows on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view in the direction of the arrows on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5 after the material has been folded inwardly upon itself;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 6 showing piping material in position to be applied to the inner surface of the upper portion;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modied form of my invention with the ornamental piping material omitted therefrom; and Y Fig. 9 is a side View of a pump of the type to which my invention has particular application.

My; invention may be applied to various types of articles made of leather, or similar material, wherein a smooth finished edge is desired, but, as stated above, it has particular application to low shoes such as pumps, and in the accompanying drawing it is illustrated as being embodied in a pump. In Fig. 9 is shown a pump comprising an upper portion I9, sole El and heel l2. The pump illustrated is of turned construction but it may be made in any desired mannenrmy invention being limited to the improved type of finished edge I4 surrounding the foot-receiving opening indicated at l5 and to the method of making the same. In Fig. l. the upper portion of a pump which embodies my invention before the sole and heel have been applied thereto is shown.

In both the preferred and modied forms of my invention a blank of suitable material indicated at Il, preferably leather or the like, and which is of the proper shape and design for forming the upper portion of a pump, is rst provided. The blank usually extends from the rear of the shoe indicated at I8 around the front to the rear 'I8 thereof where it is suitably connected to the other end. of the blank. The top of the blank is suitably cut away at the top to provide an opening indicated at l5 for the insertion and removal of the foot of the wearer of the pump. If desired, the material l1 may have secured to the inner surface thereof suitable lining material such as canvas or the like indicated at i9. If the lining is provided, however, it should terminate a short distance below the upper edge of the material l1 surrounding the opening i5, as indicated most clearly at 20 in Figs. 3 and 4.

The rst step in forming my improved finished edge Iii is to skive the inner surface of the material H at the upper edge thereof forming the opening l5, as indicated at 2l in Figs. 4 and 5, and in this way the material Il is caused to taper toward the edge forming the opening i5. 1t will be seen that portions of the edge of the material I1 forming the opening l5 are curved so as toV provide an opening of the proper shape, such as the portion of the material surrounding the forward end of the opening indicated in Fig. 3. The curved portions of the skived edge 2i are provided with a plurality of slits indicated at 22 extending l inwardly from the edge of the material so as to facilitate the folding under of the skived edge, as will be later explained, without distortion of the material.

After the curved portions of the skived edge have been provided with the slits 22, a tape or strip of fabric indicated at 23 is laid over the outerV surface of the material li so that its upper edge is substantially ush with the edge of the material l1 surrounding the opening |5, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and the tape or strip of fabric is then secured in position by a line of stitching 24 which passes through the skived portion 2| and through the tape or strip of fabric 23. The tape or strip of fabric is preferably extended completely around the opening l5.

The next step in the formation of the improvedA finished edge is to fold the skived portion 2| of the material l? inwardly, as indicated in Fig. 6, so that it rests on the inner surface of the upper portion of the shoe and the tape 23 is folded over so that it rests against the lining material I9 and is suitably secured in this position as by means of an adhesive. It will be seen that the tape or strip of fabric 23 performs the function'Y of strengthening and reinforcing the skived folded over edge 2| of the material ll and also of securing the folded over edge in position. By folding over the edge in the manner above described a smooth finished edge, which is attractive in ap pearance and which is free from distortion and properly fits the foot of the wearer, is provided.

In the preferred form of my invention after the edge has been folded over and the tape has been adhesively secured to the lining IS, I apply a strip of piping to the inner surface of the upper portion of the shoe in such a manner that the piping surrounds the foot-receiving opening i and is substantially flush with the finished edge of the upper portion. 'I'he piping material is preferably of a color which contrasts with the upper portion, that is, if the upper portion is black, the piping material may be red. In Fig. l a suitable type of piping material is illustrated which consists of a strip of material 25 which may be leather, fabric or the like, and which is folded longitudinally so as to provde one relatively long depending end 25 and one relatively short depending end 21, the shorter end 21' preferably being of such a length that it will not extend downwardly as far as the tape 23 when the parts are assembled, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and '7, and the longer end 2S being of a length preferably to overlap the tape 23. Suitably secured to the outer surface of the longer end 26 of the piping material, as by means of an adhesive, is the strip of fabric or tape 28 which extends downwardly some distance below the end of the piping material. In assembling the pipi ing material it is placed against the inner surface of the upper portion of the pump so that the piping is substantially flush with or is in a plane slightly above the folded over edge, and the tape 28 is secured to the lining material i9 and to the tape or strip of fabric 23 by suitable means such as an adhesive.

After the piping has been applied as described, the inner surface of the upper portion may be provided with a suitable lining composed of soft leather, fabric or the like indicated at 30, which extends from a short distance below the opening I5 to the sole of the shoe. To hold the parts in assembled position, I preferably provide a line of stitching 3| extending through the folded over edge of the material the lining material I9, the piping 25, the tape 28 and the lining material 30. The line of stitching 3| extends around the opening I5 a short distance from the edge thereof.

In carrying out my invention, if desired, the piping 25 may be omitted as shown in Fig. 8. In this form of my invention, however, the edge of the material forming the opening l5 is treated in all other respects in exactly the same manner so as to produce the modified form of finished edge. Thus the edge is skived at 2|, the curved portions are provided with slits 22, a tape or strip of fabric 23 is secured thereto and the edge 2| and tape 23 are folded inwardly and secured as by an adhesive to the inner surface of the pump. As in the preferred form a lining may be applied to the shoe and a line of stitching 3| is preferably employed to hold the parts in assembled relation.

It should be understood, of course, that modications may be made in the illustrated and described embodiments of my invention Without departing from the invention as defined in the accompanying claim. Thus my invention may be applied to articles other than pumps made of leather or similar material.

I claim:

A low shoe of the pump style, comprising a sole portion, and an upper portion having an opening adjacent the top to permit of the insertion and removal of the foot of the wearer, the edgeof the upper portion around the opening being slzived and being folded inwardly upon itself to form a smooth, finished edge around the opening, means including a strip of tape secured to the skived folded-over portion and to the inside of the upper portion for reenforcing the folded-over portion and securing it in position, a strip of material folded longitudinally upon itself and secured to the inside of the upper portion adjacent the opening so as to form piping extending around the opening, the piping being positioned adjacent to and at the same level as the folded-over edge of the upper portion, the piping and folded-over edge being of contrasting colors, one of the longitudinal edges of the strip or" material formed into piping being positioned to abut the strip of tape and the other longitudinal edge being in overlapping relation with the strip of tape, a second strip of tape secured to the inner surface of the piping material and to the inside of the upper portion, lining material inside the upper portion extending to adjacent the top thereof and overlying the strips of tape, and the piping material, and a line of stitching extending around the opening, through the lining material, piping material, the folded-over edge of the upper portion and the second piece of tape, so as to aid in securing the parts in assembled relation.

SEYMOUR TROY.

Cil 

